Critical Recap: Critical Role C4E07 “On the Scent”

Hello and welcome to Critical Recap! I’m Dani Carr, the Critical Role Lore Keeper. Let’s dive into Critical Role Campaign 4 Episode 7 On the Scent!

DOL-MAKJAR

Murray watches Dean Kora Keplenvaisreck give her inaugural speech as the new dean after Tallbarrel was ousted. She scoffs, and Kora privately tells Murray to come to her office. Meanwhile, Bolaire gives a tour of the Archanade to Lady Amariya Dacen Cormalay and Temoday Wurnst. Lady Amariya asks probing questions about the Pariah Blades and Bolaire reveals that the ones on display are fake. The museum keeps the real ones archived for safety. He tells her that the Trickster god died in a theatre and she asks if he knows Halandil Fang.

VALLOW

The Soldiers survey the area around the burning Wraith Tree, but there is no sign of Teor’s brother Cyd. The group recognizes that they have destroyed a great evil here, but now the forest will be more accessible to others. Thimble notices the body of a fey hunter and Wick wonders if the magic he’s displaying comes from the blood of his celestial grandfather. The group keeps moving through the night, but lose Cyd’s trail. They camp in the trees and when Kattigan wakes up, he hears the sound of a songbird. Life is returning to the forest.

The group heads north and reaches the pastoral kingdom of Timmony in the afternoon, finding themselves in the fief of Vallow. They see charms wrapped around fairy trees for luck, as well as symbols of the Candescent Creed. Thimble is upset seeing a fairy tree with its charms specifically cut away. They go to a chapel and speak to an acolyte named Tholomoine, where Teor guides Wick on how to interact.

Tholomoine explains that the Lux of the chapel has journeyed to Arderin alone to meet with the Earl of Vallow. He is surprised that Wickander Halovar travels with a fairy and a demon, but pleased that the Light has guided at least Tyranny. Thimble and Kattigan go outside and speak to a shepherd named Tasker, who still appreciates the fair folk. He explains that the Creed put up fences to help with the undead and is grateful that the undead might now be less frequent.

BUSINESS DOGS

The King of Timmony is heading south to meet with the Revolutionary Council of Dol-Makjar. Yesterday, a nama asked for sanctuary at a chapel, but that Lux had the Earl’s knights arrest him. The lionfolk will be sent to the new Baron of Sloak – who is likely Casimir. Thimble throws rocks at Wick and yells at him for being condescending to fairies. Sloak is a destitute town in Gormalay and the fastest route is traveling by the King’s Way via horses. Desperate for speed, the Soldiers decide to lean on Wick’s influence and try the King’s Way.

They notice little shrines to dogs, with some dogs sleeping in them. Dogs are revered in Timmony, which was founded by King Augustus Valian, who is still king now. King Gus invited both fey and druids into his court to advise him and these shrines are part of the Grant of Passage, acting as way points for messenger dogs. They arrive at the large town of Arderin and hear representatives of the Creed calling King Gus a tyrant and declaring that he has put himself above the Light.

Wick tries to follow Teor’s advice and intimidate a wagon driver into giving them a ride but he is heartily rebuffed by a Gus loyalist. Teor pays an apple seller to give them a ride in her cart and Tyranny encourages Wick to not be mean – he can still be kind and be a leader and not taken advantage of by his family. The group is able to rest on the cart ride and the driver lets them rest outside her home. Thimble spots a dog shrine on the other side of a stream, where a huge hound is watching them. Thimble wakes up Kattigan, but the dog vanishes.

THE HOUNDS

Thimble convinces Kattigan to look for the dog with her. They find paw prints leading into and out of a tavern, so they go inside and ask the young owner, Gwen, some questions. There is another dog asleep in front of the hearth and Gwen explains that the mastiffs are hounds of the king – they serve Gus and go on patrol for him. Thimble spies on the guests upstairs, seeing a shield emblazoned with the emblem of House Seremai, a Tachonis vassal house.

Kattigan speaks to the dog downstairs, who is another hound of the king named Dame Morgaine. These hounds are druids of some type, able to converse naturally. The dog Thimble saw is named Hawkins. Kattigan and Thimble tell Morgaine that their friend was taken by the new baron of Sloak, who is meeting with the people upstairs tomorrow. The new baron is an oathbreaker. Morgaine is also going to Sloak – she’s heard rumor that the baron is a criminal. Kattigan is unsure whether to trust Morgaine, but the three part respectfully.

CASTLE SLOAK

The Soldiers head out again in the morning, making their way to Sloak in the rain. It is a small barony clinging to the side of the Kavrosi mountains, with a tiny town of hovels. The “castle” is a small, crumbling keep. This place is far too poor and small to even be taxed. Casimir has been given nothing for his betrayal of Thjazi. They discuss a potential ambush as a caravan pulls up to the castle.

Thimble flies up to spy. She sees Casimir angrily stalking the tiny courtyard, wearing a new mantle of crow feathers. He is surrounded by knights and men at arms, several of which are Crow Keepers. Knights of House Tachonis enter with a lord of House Seremai and two cousins of House Tachonis – Lord Doset Tachonis and his older sister, Lady Univere Tachonis. Lady Univere has tattooed her face to resemble a skull.

Casimir berates the Tachonis siblings for leaving him a pile of rubble and demands that Cyd be hanged in the village. Doset refuses to tell him, saying that Cyd is not Casimir’s concern. Casimir is extremely angry. Thjazi was his friend, this was supposed to be worth it. He watched Thjazi die, watched him see a falcon. Univere asks about the falcon, choking Casimir for answers. It was the last thing Thjazi saw before he died. Univere and Doset need to leave, but Casimir throws a rock at them. Doset has the knight teach Casimir a lesson by spanking him with a sword in front of his men.

PLAN MULLET

The envoys of House Tachonis ride out and a humiliated Casimir demands that the others go out and raise taxes on the tiny town. The Soldiers discuss whether they should go after Cyd or stay here and deal with Casimir. Kattigan thinks Cyd is okay right now, since the Tachonis want him for something, and Teor decides to stay and take care of Casimir. The knights are going to hurt the villagers, so this needs to end now.

They come up with a plan to have Tyranny disguise herself as a Candescent Creed nurse while Thimble, Kattigan, and Teor go around back. Wick and Tyranny approach the knights before they can go into town, saying that they are here from the Creed. A man named Sir Gully Breeches tries to arrest them, since they say they know Casimir is injured, but Wick and Tyranny cast spells to charm him, ending the combat before it begins. Wick demands they treat this doctor (Tyranny) with respect.

The knights realize they are talking to Wicander Halovar and welcome him to Castle Sloak. Tyranny claims her name is Doctor Finger and they are allowed entrance. Casimir is confused, but Wick convinces him that the Tachonis have sent him as an ally. Finally, the respect Casimir deserves! Time to turn this place around. Casimir welcomes them in as the others wait for a signal to attack.

That is it for Episode 7 of Critical Role!

FINAL THOUGHTS

• So was Cyd in the tavern that night? Could they have rescued him then? Poor Cyd and Teor!
• I love the dog-centrism of this kingdom. I’d be down to live in Timmony if it means lots of dogs everywhere.
• Confirmed that Thjazi did see a falcon before he died! What could that mean and why did it unnerve House Tachonis?

Catch Episode 8 of Critical Role Campaign 4 on Thursday, December 4th at 7pm Pacific on beacon.tv, where Beacon members get access to the entire episode, podcast included! The episode will also release on twitch.tv/criticalrole and on youtube.com/criticalrole and in two parts on our podcast. Is it Thursday yet?